We race towards the Father.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

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Monday, February 14, 2011

A More Beautiful You

Often, I look in the mirror. I don't like what I see most of the time. That's just me being purely honest. So much of the time I feel like blemish, like God messed up on me or something. I have blemishes on my face, I could lose a few pounds and get in shape, my hair never looks right...and I could go on. I look at myself and say, "Ew - I am disgusting. What happened?"

If you haven't seen the "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." I would encourage you to watch it. It was my favorite book out of the Chronicles of Narnia and the movie was great too. Honestly, a part of the story really convicted me. It was when the main character Lucy, was looking in a mirror that was on a page of a book of spells. It said, "An infallible spell to make you she, the beauty you've always wanted to be." When Lucy looked into that mirror - her face transformed into her older sister, Susan's. Lucy thought that the mirror had made her beautiful and she felt good about herself when she looked into that mirror. So she tore the page out and looked into it all the time. It consumed her.

At this point in the movie, I had thought about all the girls who I have wished I could look like - one being my OWN older sister. How much time have I spent worrying about my own little problems and wishing that I could look like someone else?

Later, Aslan let Lucy see what it would be like if she really were Susan and the simple fact was - there would be no Lucy. None. And Narnia wouldn't have come into their lives because Lucy was the one who discovered it.

It's okay for women to want to be beautiful. I think a Proverbs 31 will be beautiful. She will take care of herself and be beautiful in her own unique way. Even the Bible acknowledges that women are gorgeous creature full of grace. So it's okay to want to look good. I want to smell pretty so I get spray that will make me smell nice and I use hair-spray in my hair. That's good. I think it's feminine to be considerate of your appearance. But we come to a point where this "lust for beauty" is overcoming us. I know it has me, at least. I am constantly facing pressures to be the "hottest one out there". Porn, latest styles, TV, magazines and care-products are all saying, "You have to be the best. You have to be the one to get the cat-calls. You have to be the one the men drool over. You have to be the one every girl is jealous of. Look like this...or her...or them..."

It's overwhelming.

No. Simply no.

When I fussing at myself, it doesn't help when someone laughs and says, "Beauty isn't what matters." Because I know that, but it's still hard. The only thing that has really helped me with this problem is this verse - one of my favorites.

Song of Solomon 4:7 "All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you."

The sound like the words of a man madly in love with a woman. They are. Do you realize that someone is madly in love with you? I have proof! He told me He was! Ladies, Song of Solomon is a love letter from God to His people. With one "glance, we ravish His heart." God is pleased with us. He calls us to come and be alone with Him.

Yes, outward beauty is perishing and it isn't key in our lives, but you are beautiful.

When was the last time someone told you that and really meant it, not just saying to to clear your mind? Well, I'm saying it to you now and I have NO CLUE what you may look like.

You are beautiful. Your eyes. Your soft hair. The way you smile. Your hands. You're beautiful! If you don't believe me. Take it from the Big Guy. He says it in Song of Solomon several times. Write SOS 4:7 on your mirror. Read it and highlight it in your Bible.

I'm ashamed to say that I've wasted time envying other girls. Like Lucy, don't wish yourself to look like someone else. Because then there wouldn't be a you and there could never be a more beautiful you.

Ya know, the thought occurred to me one day that God isn't up in heaven looking down on me saying, "Whew! What was I thinking? Man, I sure messed up on that one!!" God doesn't make mistakes. That's a comforting thought.

There is a song that I really like by Johnny Diaz. Listen to it. It's got great words.

6 comments:

Haha I really like the post until you told me my eyes and soft hair and my hands are beautiful. I just felt awkward lol. But I totally agree! I often get mad at girls who stress over their appearances because too much make-up makes them ugly. I know too many girls who wear too much. I get mad at girls who rely on a magic powder or cream for their beauty. But then I remember that I used to be one of those guys who only cares for the pretty girls.

Hey Ashley! You said you wanted another post, here it is! I LOVE this!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for looking out for us girls; I know we don't know each other very well, but I really look up to you and I hope we can get to know each other better int he near future! ;}